UPDATES FROM TASK FORCE CHAIRS
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This morning, our Richmond COVID-19 Community Task Force (RCCTF) hosted its eighth teleconference meeting.
Continuing the discussion of recovery, the Task Force focused on what BC's phased Restart Plan means for Richmond residents and businesses.
Many open questions will be answered in the coming weeks. As always, we appreciate everyone who is taking the steps necessary to continue slowing the spread of COVID-19.
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Task Force Co-Chairs:
Fan Chun (Chair, Richmond Chamber of Commerce) and Mayor Malcolm Brodie (City of Richmond)
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UPDATE FROM VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH
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Dr. Meena Dawar, Medical Health Officer with Vancouver Coastal Health shared that the curve remains flattened in BC, and some details of the BC Restart Plan.
- Epidemiology: As of May 9, 2330 cases have been reported in BC with 871 reported in VCH. Approximately 10% of VCH cases are in Richmond. Case numbers are decreasing, and greater proportion are associated with clusters and outbreaks.
- BC's Restart Plan Modelling: The Restart Plan announced by the Province last week is based on a phased approach. Data modelling shows that people in BC decreased their number of contacts to about 30% of normal, which has made a difference. Modelling shows now that we may expand our social circle to up to 60% of normal (while practicing physical distancing and hygiene) without overwhelming our healthcare systems.
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UPDATE FROM THE CITY OF RICHMOND
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Mayor Brodie and Senior City staff shared that the City of Richmond is looking at easing restriction in alignment with the BC Restart Plan, with more details to be announced shortly.
Ambassadors: The Ambassador program will be in operation 7 days a week from 12pm to 9pm. These individuals help to educate the public about physical distancing guidelines and are backed up by bylaw officers when necessary.
Parking Enforcement Resumes: As many operations begin their return to normalcy, parking enforcement will be starting immediately. Monthly parking permits will also be processed shortly.
Business Reopening Resources: With the announcement of BC’s Restart Plan last week, the Economic Development Office's focus now is on helping Richmond businesses as they develop plans to safely re-open. Some guidelines have already been developed and others are now in development by WorkSafeBC in collaboration with industry associations. The EDO is making all operating guidelines easily accessible through the City’s Business Support Center (website:
www.businessinrichmond.ca/covid-19; email: businesshelp@richmond.ca; and phone: 604-276-4114
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UPDATE FROM RICHMOND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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Matt Pitcairn, President & CEO shared:
RCC's Federal Focus:
- An extension to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy was announced last week - we have been glad to see it as it was sorely needed.
- Issues with the CECRA program continue for many businesses and landlords. This support is critical for many independent businesses to survive the pandemic.
RCC's Provincial Focus:
- The Chamber is working with members to help them comply with BC's Restart Plan, and reopen their businesses in some capacity, where they are able: including investigating funding support for PPE supplies, answering questions and forwarding to elected officials.
RCC's Local Focus:
- Locally, impacts to the aviation section and specifically YVR in our own backyard are going to have major impacts here in our community. The majority of our businesses in Richmond are linked directly or indirectly to the movement of people and goods. With aviation and the cruise industry crippled at the moment, this is going to have major impacts.
- This is a time that we need to step up as a community and find new ways to stimulate the economy. Beyond ordering take-out, this could be a time to take radical large-scale steps to incentivize new ventures
Pulse Check Survey:
- The third pulse check survey went live this morning. We encourage all local employers to take this survey and share their own thoughts on BC's Restart Plan.
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UPDATE FROM VANCOUVER AIRPORT AUTHORITY (YVR)
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Craig Richmond, YVR's President and CEO was unable to join today's call but shared in writing:
YVR previously announced that it expects to serve fewer passengers as the airport works through a multi-year rebuild. YVR now expects to serve between 8 and 15 million passengers per year for the next three years. As a result, YVR began the difficult process of reorganizing its workforce and has issued layoff notices to both management and bargaining unit employees. The reductions total 25% of the Airport Authority's nearly 550-person workforce.
Air Cargo Update: YVR continues to see many carriers operating passenger aircraft as cargo only operations and expect this trend to continue. As restrictions are lifted around the world, and societies begin to reopen, we anticipate two additional trends in cargo:
- Increased demand for BC perishables as restaurants reopen in overseas markets.
- Increased cargo shipments as the retail sector reopens, and retailers undergo an inventory refresh to restock shelves and meet pent-up demand.
Airline Update: YVR remains in close contact with key airline partners such as Air Canada, WestJet and others to support current schedules changes, and align and help drive their recovery planning. YVR is starting to see positive momentum from partners such as Air Canada. In June, the airline is planning to re-start and increase frequencies for a number of key routes both domestically, to the United States and internationally.
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UPDATE FROM RICHMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT 38
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Ken Hamaguchi with Richmond School District 38 shared that:
Schooling in BC has been organized within a framework of stages. Stage 1 is a return to full in class instruction. Stage 5 is full suspension of in class instruction. We are in stage 4 now (in class for children of essential service workers and vulnerable students with remote and online learning for the rest). The plan is to move to Stage 3 by June 1, which is in-class learning for students Kindergarten to Grade 5 on a part time basis, and access to in-class learning as needed for grade 6 – 12 kids, with remote and online learning continuing to be available.
Ministry of Education will provide integrated planning framework in the next couple of weeks including:
- Operating standards and guidelines for k-12 schools
- Public health guidelines for k-12 settings
- Safety standards with WorkSafeBC
- A Return-to-class instruction template.
More details will be released in the coming weeks.
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UPDATE FROM TOURISM RICHMOND
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Nancy Small, CEO of Tourism Richmond shared that:
- The Visitor Economy as a whole is still reeling – and as reopening plans were announced last week, there was some residual confusion on timing and when we can start actively marketing our destinations to outside visitors.
- As well, the guidelines around 50-person caps to meetings and conferences comes at a time when many of us were looking at trying to preserve some business in 2020.
- In Richmond specifically we are grappling with what to do when – and how. Frankly when it makes sense to start investing in marketing and business development. So, we are working with our team, our board and our partners to determine the best way forward.
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UPDATES FROM RICHMOND'S MLAs
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MLA Teresa Wat shared an update on behalf of him and his colleagues, Jas Johal, Linda Reid, and John Yap:
On behalf of the four MLAs, thank you to the Chamber and the over 60 participants who joined the Virtual Town Hall last Friday.
Andrew Wilkinson, Leader of the Official Opposition wrote a letter to the Premier last Tuesday. This letter called for:
- 60 – 90 day holiday on PST, EHT and Hotel Tax
- A commercial rent relief plan that includes an eviction moratorium
- An increase in destination marketing budget to attract visitors when it is safe
- A moratorium on new regulations and policy that would add costs to BC businesses
Finally, the 4 MLAs are very concerned about the recent spike in hate crimes targeting Asian Canadians, particularly the alleged hate crime over the weekend in Steveston.
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MP Kenny Chiu shared updates on behalf of the Richmond MPs:
- On May 5th, the Government announced measures relating to agricultural stability. In general, two concerns are health protocols in food processing facilities, and management of supply issues caused by the shutdown of food processing plants, and labour issues for crop harvesting.
- On May 7th, the Government announced it will contribute an additional $3 billion in support for increased wages for “low income essential workers”, to be determined by the individual provinces.
- Finally, today (May 11th), the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) is for medium and large businesses, with annual revenues of $300 million or more, with the intention of allowing them to continue being active. In conjunction with this is the increase of the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) to mid-sized companies, and also financing through Farm Credit Canada. Details at this point are scant.
- The House of Commons is being recalled on Wednesday, May 13th, to consider emergency legislation enabling some of these previous announcements.
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Superintendent Will Ng, Officer in Charge for the Ric
hmond RCMP shared that:
- The Richmond RCMP are continuing high visibility patrols. There has been a marked reduction in commercial and residential break ins.
- No new arsons have been reported for past three weeks, though he RCMP and RFR are still investigating the previous arsons.
- An alleged hate crime in Steveston occurred this past Friday, that was posted on social media. The RCMP have completed interviews will all the people involved. The RCMP put out a strong response on social media that we do not tolerate this kind of behaviour. Some of the facts posted on social media were contrary to what actually took place. This is the jurisdiction of Richmond. We are working with the complainant.
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UPDATES FROM RICHMOND FIRE RESCUE
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Chief Tim Wilkinson with Richmond shared that:
- RFR staff are healthy
- RFR is reviewing reopening business plans to make sure they are in alignment with the BC Restart Plan, and that we get moving forward quickly.
- There were 11 fires over the weekend, which is higher than normal.
- RFR is preparing for the wildfire season and expecting a busier than normal wildfire season.
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Richmond Chamber of Commerce
604.278.2822
rcc@richmondchamber.ca
www.RichmondChamber.ca
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